A dozen local business owners met at White Label Detroit Pizza in Heybridge on Monday (February 6), to connect and help promote each other's businesses.

The networking group was organised by entrepreneur Tommy Wathen, to provide fellow local proprietors with a way to build friendships between them.

Tommy moved to Maldon from Brentwood in 2018 and started his business shortly before getting married last year.

As Director at Shark Theory Media, a Maldon-based business, Tommy manages social media marketing on behalf of other organisations, such as Plume Academy.

Representatives from Adam's Computer Services, My Later Life Planning, MSC Financial Planners, Crisp Design, Wings of Success, Glenn Mayes - Celebrant and Toastmaster, Lara Life Coach and Burnham-on-Crouch's Chamber of Commerce attended the inaugural meeting.

"Maldon is that sort of area – where a lot of people know each other and want to help each other."

Tommy collaborated with Paul Boorman, who runs White Label Detroit Pizza at the Bentalls Centre, to help support businesses in the district and to "keep money in the local area".

Unlike other networking groups, which require memberships to join, Tommy says this group is much more casual.

He told Nub News: "My aim is to create a little group of people who are looking out for each other.

"As much as I want the group to benefit businesses, helping each other to get customers and clients, the public will also find out about businesses in their town – where they could get a better product and better service than they would from for bigger-name companies."

After attending a business networking event last year, Tommy saw how local entrepreneurs could benefit from similar events. But he also felt established business groups can, at times, be intimidating for small business owners.

He said: "If you are a new business owner, like me and a lot of others, you might feel anxious going into something official like that.

"I just wanted to create a place without that pressure. There's no commitment - we all just meet up once a month.

"We take a bit of the 'business' out of it, building friendships first, with the hope that everyone will keep their ears out, to help push each other's businesses.

"Maldon is that sort of area – where a lot of people know each other and want to help each other."

The next meeting will be held at White Label Detroit Pizza on Monday 13 March, from 7pm until 9pm.

For more information, contact Tommy via email or call 0333 050 8526.

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